Drink driving trauma trends

Report

February 2017 | Version: 1

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Date: February 2017

Version: 1
Reference: Centre for Road Safety – Drink Diving Trauma Trends Report
Division: Freight, Strategy and Planning, Transport for NSW

Drink driving trauma trends – February 2017 2

 Contents
Disclaimer ..................................................................................................................... 2
1 Trends for fatal and serious injury crashes involving illegal alcohol since 2008 ....... 4
1.1 Alcohol related fatalities and serious injuries since 2008 ............................ 4
1.2 Alcohol related fatalities and serious injuries since 2008 ............................ 5
1.3 Drivers and riders with illegal alcohol involved in fatal crashes, 2008 to
2010 v 2014 to 2016, gender x age group .................................................. 6
1.4 Drivers and riders with illegal alcohol involved in serious injury crashes,
2008 to 2010 v 2015 to 2016, gender x age group...................................... 6
1.5 Alcohol related fatal crashes since 2008, urbanisation ............................... 7
1.6 Alcohol related fatal crashes since 2008, Road Classification..................... 8
1.7 Alcohol related serious injury crashes since 2008, Road Classification ...... 8
1.8 Drivers and riders with illegal alcohol involved in fatal crashes since 2008,
Type of Vehicle ........................................................................................... 9
1.9 Drivers and rides with illegal alcohol involved in serious injury crashes
since 2008, Type of Vehicle ........................................................................ 9
1.10 Drivers and riders with illegal alcohol involved in fatal crashes since 2008,
Alcohol Band ............................................................................................ 10
1.11 Drivers and riders with illegal alcohol involved in serious injury crashes
since 2008, Alcohol Band ......................................................................... 10
1.12 Percentage of drivers and riders involved in fatal crashes, 2012 to 2016,
illegal alcohol v legal alcohol, selected factors .......................................... 11
1.13 Percentage of drivers and riders involved in serious injury crashes, 2012
to 2016, illegal alcohol v legal alcohol, selected factors ............................ 11
1.14 Percentage of alcohol related fatal and serious injury crashes since 2012,
day of week .............................................................................................. 12
1.15 Percentage of alcohol related fatal and serious injury crashes since 2012,
hour of day ............................................................................................... 13

Drink driving trauma trends – February 2017 3

1 Trends for fatal and serious injury crashes
involving illegal alcohol since 2008
The following overview of drink driving involvement in NSW road trauma is limited to
the most recent available data. For fatal crashes this covers the calendar years 2008
to 2016p, where the 2016 data are preliminary and subject to change. Due to the time
lag in processing blood samples the alcohol data for 2016 are slightly under-
enumerated at this time. For serious injury crashes this covers the calendar years
2008 to 2015 – data for the calendar year 2016 data were incomplete at the time of
this report and therefore not included. Only the matched serious injury data were
used in the analysis as complete alcohol data for non-matched serious injuries (along
with other crash characteristics) were not available.
An alcohol related crash is a crash involving at least one motor vehicle controller with
an illegal alcohol level at the time of the crash.
From 2008 to 2016 there were a total of 517 fatal crashes involving alcohol, resulting
in 577 fatalities with illegal alcohol accounting for at least 17 per cent of all fatalities
over this period.
From 2008 to 2015 there were a total of 4,253 serious injuries from alcohol related
crashes, representing at least 8 per cent of all serious injuries over this period.

1.1 Alcohol related fatalities and serious injuries since 2008

Alcohol Related Fatalities and Serious Injuries

Since 2008
100 640 700
633
94
80 518 525 560
507 493
474
Number of Serious Injuries

78 463
Number of Fatalities

74
70
60 420

56 57
53
50
40 45 280

20 140

0 0
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Fatalities Serious Injuries

With the exception of the 2016 fatality result, alcohol related fatalities and serious
injuries have decreased since 2009. Compared with the 2008 to 2010 baseline
average alcohol related fatalities in 2016 were down by 30 per cent (the 2015 result
was 45 per cent below the 2008 to 2010 baseline average). Similarly, alcohol related
serious injuries in 2015 were 22 per cent below the 2008 to 2010 baseline average.
Consequently, the percentage of serious road trauma which involves alcohol has
been trending downwards since 2008.

Drink driving trauma trends – February 2017 4

1.2 Alcohol related fatalities and serious injuries since 2008

Alcohol Related Fatalities and Serious Injuries

Since 2008
25%

21% 21%
19%
20% 18%
16%
Number of Fatalities

16%
15% 15%
15% 13%

10% 10%
10% 8% 8% 7% 7% 7% 7%

5%

0%
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Fatalities Serious Injuries

The overwhelming majority of drink drivers involved in fatal crashes for 2008 to 2016
are males (91 per cent) with males aged under 50 years accounting for 79 per cent of
all drink drivers involved in fatal crashes.
Similarly a significant majority of drink drivers involved in serious injury crashes for
2008 to 2015 are males (78 per cent) with males aged under 50 years accounting for
68 per cent of all drink drivers involved in serious injury crashes.
The following chart showing the demographic distribution of drink drivers involved in
fatal crashes show improvements for most demographic groups, particularly for males
aged under 26 years. However, there has been little improvement amongst males
aged 26 to 39 years.

Drink driving trauma trends – February 2017 5

1.3 Drivers and riders with illegal alcohol involved in fatal crashes,
2008 to 2010 v 2014 to 2016, gender x age group

Drivers and Riders With Illegal Alcohol Involved

in Fatal Crashes, 2008 to 2010 v 2014 to 2016,
Gender x Age Group
30
Number of Involvements in Fatal Crashes

25

20

15

10

0
Male Male Male Male Male Male Female Female Female Female Female Female
Under 26 to 40 to 50 to 60 to 70+ Under 26 to 40 to 50 to 60 to 70+
26 39 49 59 69 26 39 49 59 69

2008 to 2010 Average 2014 to 2016 Average

For drink drivers involved in serious injury crashes the largest improvements have
been amongst males aged under 40 years and females under 26 years.

1.4 Drivers and riders with illegal alcohol involved in serious injury
crashes, 2008 to 2010 v 2015 to 2016, gender x age group

Drivers and Riders With Illegal Alcohol Involved

in Serious Injury Crashes, 2008 to 2010 v 2015
to 2016, Gender x Age Group
180
Number of Involvements in Serious Injury Crashes

160

140

120

100

80

60

40

20

0
Male Male Male Male Male Male Female Female Female Female Female Female
Under 26 to 40 to 50 to 60 to 70+ Under 26 to 40 to 50 to 60 to 70+
26 39 49 59 69 26 39 49 59 69

2008 to 2010 Average 2014 to 2015 Average

The majority of fatal crashes involving alcohol occur in the country areas of NSW (that
is, outside the Sydney Newcastle and Wollongong Greater Conurbation). From 2009
to 2015 there was a strong decreasing trend in the country areas, but 2016 showed
an increase. In contrast, the downward trend for alcohol related fatal crashes in the

Drink driving trauma trends – February 2017 6

 Sydney Newcastle and Wollongong Greater Conurbation has been more modest but
more consistent.

1.5 Alcohol related fatal crashes since 2008, urbanisation

Alcohol Related Fatal Crashes Since 2008,

Urbanisation
70
60
60

47
Number of Fatal Crashes

50 46
43
41
40 36
33

30 26 27 26
25
19 18
20 17 17 17
13

10 6

0
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Syd-Newc-Woll Gtr conurbation Rest of NSW

Alcohol related serious injuries are fairly evenly split between the Sydney Newcastle
and Wollongong Greater Conurbation and the rest of the State. Both regions of the
State have enjoyed similar levels of reductions over the period 2008 to 2015.

Alcohol Related Serious Injury Crashes Since 2008,

Urbanisation
300 275
263

250 263 226

Number of Serious Injury Crashes

220
247 208 211 209
189
200
207 210
199 194 197
189
150

100

50

0
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Syd-Newc-Woll Gtr conurbation Rest of NSW

The largest percentage of alcohol related fatal crashes and serious injury crashes
continues to occur on unclassified (local) roads. Unclassified roads had the majority
of the increase in alcohol related fatal crashes in 2016, but an overall decrease in
alcohol related serious injury crashes between 2008 and 2015.

Drink driving trauma trends – February 2017 7

1.6 Alcohol related fatal crashes since 2008, Road Classification

Alcohol Related Fatal Crashes Since 2008,

Road Classification
45
41
40 37

35 32 31
Number of Fatal Crashes

30 27 26 25
25 23
20 21 20 19
18
20
16
15 18
11 11 11
15 15
10 13 12 12
5 8 7 7
0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
0
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Freeway/motorway State highway Other classified road Unclassified road

1.7 Alcohol related serious injury crashes since 2008, Road

Classification

Alcohol Related Serious Injury Crashes Since 2008,

Road Classification
350
310 311
300 273
261
Number of Serious Injury Crashes

257 256 252

250 232

200
146 138
150
111 103 101 97
89 91
100
59 60 59 56
41 41 45 49
50
11 13 10 7 5 7 8 8
0
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Freeway/motorway State highway Other classified road Unclassified road

The decrease in drink drivers involved in car / car derivative fatal crashes has
persisted since 2009, whilst light truck drivers show an increase in fatal crash
involvements in 2016. Compared with their levels of involvement in serious injury
crashes, the involvement of light truck drink drivers and motorcycle drink riders in fatal
crashes appear to be over-represented. Illegal alcohol levels are seldom found for
heavy vehicle drivers involved in fatal and serious injury crashes.

Drink driving trauma trends – February 2017 8

1.8 Drivers and riders with illegal alcohol involved in fatal crashes
since 2008, Type of Vehicle

Drivers and Riders With Illegal Alcohol Involved in

Fatal Crashes Since 2008, Type of Vehicle
60 55
52
Number of Involvements in Fatal Crashes

50 45
41
40
32
29
30 26 25
22
20 17
13
10 11 11 18
17 9 8 9
10 5
4 11
2 10 1
7 0 0 8
0 0 0 8 0
6 5
0
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Car/car derivative Light truck Heavy Vehicle Motorcycle

1.9 Drivers and riders with illegal alcohol involved in serious injury
crashes since 2008, Type of Vehicle

Drivers and Riders With Illegal Alcohol Involved in

Serious Injury Crashes Since 2008, Type of Vehicle
400 377
366
Number of Involvements in Serious Injury Crashes

350
305
289 280 283
300 279
268

250

200

150

100 79 77 73
63 67 67
55
45
50 74 74 70
63 57 56
51 51
0
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Car/car derivative Light truck Heavy Vehicle Motorcycle

Prior to 2014 the largest group of drink drivers involved in fatal crashes were in the
high range band (at least 0.15 g/100mL blood alcohol concentration). Following the
downward trend for this high range band since 2009 it is now similar to the mid range
band (0.08 to 0.149 g/100mL). The high range and mid range bands account for
similar levels of drink driving involvement in serious injury crashes, but their trends
since 2010 have been relatively flat.

Drink driving trauma trends – February 2017 9

1.10 Drivers and riders with illegal alcohol involved in fatal crashes
since 2008, Alcohol Band

Drivers and Riders With Illegal Alcohol Involved in

Fatal Crashes Since 2008, Alcohol Band
60 55
Number of Involvements in Fatal Crashes

50

39
40 35

29
30 25 26 25
23
21
19 19
18 18
20 17 17 17 17
15

10 7 6 7
5 5 5
3
9
0 0
7 7 6
0 4 4 4
2 1
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Special Range Low Range Mid Range High Range

1.11 Drivers and riders with illegal alcohol involved in serious injury
crashes since 2008, Alcohol Band

Drivers and Riders With Illegal Alcohol Involved in

Serious Injury Crashes Since 2008, Alcohol Band
250
226 226
Number of Involvements in Serious Injury Crashes

200 211 180

202 170 173 174
163 167

174 174 177

150 165 161
159

100

50 38 70
60 64 60
56
24 22 25 20
51
15 42 12 16
35
0
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Special Range Low Range Mid Range High Range

Comparing the prevalence of behavioural factors for drink drivers involved in fatal
crashes with that of non-drink drivers involved in fatal crashes strongly suggests that
drink driving is associated with elevated levels for other selected behavioural factors.
For example, more than two-thirds of all drink driving involvements in fatal crashes
(68 per cent) involved excessive or inappropriate speed whilst only 25 per cent of all
driver / rider fatal crash involvements with a legal alcohol result involved excessive or
inappropriate speed. Fatigue, safety device usage and unauthorised driving are also
Drink driving trauma trends – February 2017 10
 strongly over-represented amongst drug driving fatal crash involvements. There was
also an elevated level of crashing in the same local government area of residence for
drink drivers involved in fatal crashes.

1.12 Percentage of drivers and riders involved in fatal crashes, 2012 to

2016, illegal alcohol v legal alcohol, selected factors

Percentage of Drivers and Riders Involved

in Fatal Crashes, 2012 to 2016,
Illegal Alcohol v Legal Alcohol, Selected Factors
Percentage of Involvements in Fatal Crashes

80%
68%
70%

60% 56%

50%
41%
40%

30% 27%
25%
20%
18% 18%
20%
12%
10% 5% 5%
3%
0%
Speed Fatigue Restraint Non Helmet Non Unauthorised Same LGA
Usage Usage

Driver / Rider With Illegal Alcohol Driver / Rider With Legal Alcohol

Similar findings were found for drink drivers involved in serious injury crashes when
compared with those drivers / riders with a legal alcohol result involved in serious
injury crashes.

1.13 Percentage of drivers and riders involved in serious injury crashes,

2012 to 2016, illegal alcohol v legal alcohol, selected factors

Percentage of Drivers and Riders Involved

in Serious Injury Crashes, 2012 to 2016,
Percentage of Involvements in Serious Injury Crashes

Illegal Alcohol v Legal Alcohol, Selected Factors

70% 66%

60%
50%
50%

40%

30% 26% 25%

20% 18%

8%
10%

0%
Speed Fatigue Restraint Non Helmet Non Unauthorised Same LGA
Usage Usage

Driver / Rider With Illegal Alcohol Driver / Rider With Legal Alcohol

Drink driving trauma trends – February 2017 11

 Note that these results do not take into account the differing demographic profile of
motor vehicle controllers involved in fatal crashes with an illegal alcohol level.
Standardising the results by age and gender only slightly reduces the strength of the
over-representation of these risk taking behaviours for drivers and riders involved in
drink driving fatal and serious injury crashes.

1.14 Percentage of alcohol related fatal and serious injury crashes since
2012, day of week

Percentage of Alcohol Related Fatal and Serious

Injury Crashes, Since 2012, Day of Week
30%
Percentage of Alcohol Related Fatal and Serious Injury Crashes

25% 24%24%
23%
22%

20%

16%15%
15% 14%
13%

10%
10% 9%
8%
8% 8%
7%

5%

0%
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday

Fatal Crashes - 2012 to 2016 Serious Injury Crashes - 2012 to 2015

The incidence of alcohol related fatal and serious injury crashes increases through
the end of the working week and then increasing further on the weekend. Almost half
of all alcohol related fatal and serious injury crashes occurred on the weekend.

Drink driving trauma trends – February 2017 12

1.15 Percentage of alcohol related fatal and serious injury crashes since
2012, hour of day

Percentage of Alcohol Related Fatal and Serious

Injury Crashes, Since 2012, Hour of Day
25%
Percentage of Alcohol Related Fatal and Serious Injury Crashes

21%

20%

16% 15%
15% 15% 15%
15%
13%

11%
10% 10%
10%
10%
8%
6%
5%5%
4% 5%
5% 4% 3%
3%
2% 2%
1% 1%
0%

Fatal Crashes - 2012 to 2016 Serious Injury Crashes - 2012 to 2015

The incidence of alcohol related fatal and serious injury crashes is highest during the
evening and early morning hours of the day.

Drink driving trauma trends – February 2017 13